Big Ten Football: 5 biggest potential upsets of the 2017 season

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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Treon Harris #3 of the Florida Gators in action against Royce Jenkins-Stone #52 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl game at Orlando Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

5. Michigan vs. Florida (Sept. 2) in Arlington, Texas

Michigan’s week one game against Florida could seriously define the Big Ten East Conference in 2017.

Currently ranked the No. 11 team in the nation by the AP preseason poll, Michigan is one of the three teams fighting for the top spot in the Big Ten East, and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff. However, the Wolverines’ chances of taking third year head coach Jim Harbaugh to the playoffs for the first time in his tenure at Michigan could be dashed as early as week on if the team loses to No. 17 Florida.

Meet The Gators

Florida has been able to quietly build a strong resume over that last two seasons under new head coach Jim McElwain. After muddling through four largely unremarkable seasons under former head coach Will Muschamp, McElwain’s regime has returned hope to the people of Gainesville. His Gator squad has won the SEC East Conference in back to back seasons, and has faced off against Alabama in consecutive years in the SEC championship games.

While most week one games are essentially warm ups before inter-conference play begins, Michigan’s face-off against Florida is anything but a shoo-in. Florida’s defensive coordinator Randy Shannon has built a stout 4-3 defense that utilizes press man techniques to disrupt opposing wide receivers’ routes and force quarterbacks into bad decisions.

Furthermore, Florida also deploys an athletic front seven, with rangy athletic linebackers whom can cover sideline to sideline, and a burly defensive front that can control the line of scrimmage.

In addition to the Gator’s fifth-ranked defense, Florida’s 2017 roster could also potentially deliver McElwain, an offensive-oriented head coach, his first real starting caliber quarterback in senior transfer Malik Zaire.

After suffering through four sub-par starting quarterbacks over the last two seasons, the team now has a dynamic athlete with a cannon for an arm. While Zaire’s ultimate impact on the Gators’ 2017 season is still a mystery, he has without a doubt the most potential of any quarterback coached by Jim in his Florida tenure.

Why it could be an upset

This is going to be a close game.

Michigan finished last season with the best overall defense in college football. While the team is returning a number of starters in 2017, they will have to grapple with the loss of key pieces like Taco Charlton and Jabrill Peppers.

Rebuilding a defense is almost a yearly chore for the best teams in college football, but for a team like Michigan that could be starting as many as six freshman this season, playing Florida in week one could be a real trial by fire. Coach McElwain has built his reputation on fielding a dynamic offense that can run a variety of plays in quick secession from a variety of sets, paired with a stout defense that punishes opponents.

On offense it will be paramount for Michigan to control the time of possession in what could be a low scoring game. However, unlike many of their Big Ten peers, Michigan will be lacking experience at the skilled positions.

Quarterback Wilton Speight will be entering his second season as Michigan’s starting quarterback and will be joined by wide receivers Dylan Crawford, Eddie McDoom and running back Chris Evans. While this outfit will be playing behind a fairly veteran offensive line, it may take some time to build up the in-game chemistry needed to take on a veteran squad like Florida.

McElwain is so confident in his team’s chances against the Wolverines that he has already guaranteed a victory in Week 1. While his hubris should be admired, it may not be as farfetched as it may seem.

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